OPEN ♔ I GOT NO PLANS AND TOO MUCH TIME

[socialgraces]

♬ We Are Nowhere and It's Now - Bright Eyes

WHO || Francesca and YOU. [Open]
WHAT || You wander into the mysterious tavern on the second floor of the castle, and happen to notice the lone woman taking up a large round booth in a dark corner. For some reason, all other patrons seem to be avoiding said corner.
WHERE || The Second Floor Pub, Knights HQ, England
WHEN || Friday, early evening
HOW || Actionspam, multiple threads, but feel free to join threads as well ;)

[Just outside the Dragon's Hide wing on the second floor of the castle there's rumored to be a impressively well-stocked pub, decorated in Faerunian fashion. It's dark and smokey inside, with heavy curtains covering the windows and only candlelight on the tables. A large bar is off to the left, and there are several older-looking Knights solemnly nursing their pints of ale. At a table in the center of the room is a rowdy group of young men playing a drinking game.

Francesca sits at the farthest table from the door. She's all alone, even though the table was obviously made for a large group of people. She has an untouched glass of wine in front of her and isn't paying much attention to anyone around her. And they seem to pay no attention to her either; in fact, it seems as if no one even dares to approach that low-lit corner.]

Comments

[socialgraces]

[That really makes her laugh. It's still a quiet, reserved sound though.] I probably wouldn't either, if I was you.

So who was it that found you and brought you back to London?

[bigbad]

Short fellow with the attitude. Uh, Dovan. Nice bloke.

[socialgraces]

He's a good friend to have. He'll put up with just about anything.

Are you squired to him as well? That's usually how it works.

[bigbad]

[Spike shakes his head.] No. Haven't met the guy yet. Sir Lanston Wellington. Apparently lives somewhere in the woods.

[socialgraces]

[She seems genuinely surprised.] Really? Lan? [And then she takes a moment to mull the idea over in her head.] That was certainly an interesting choice on Wynn's part. [She then realizes she might be making him nervous and adds:] Don't let him get the best of you. You'll do fine. He's really quite a brilliant knight.

[Enough about Lan.] This question may be a tad premature, but how are you liking it here so far?

[bigbad]

It's been all right. [But wait, no, not enough about Lan.] What's so interesting about him?

[socialgraces]

I'm not really one for gossip, [not completely true] but it's best with him to just remember that he's very set in his ways. I have known him for many, many years and he's honest, albeit opinionated, as well as a loyal comrade, and a [don't say 'self-righteous jackass'] model paladin. [She doesn't realize that Spike probably has no idea what a paladin is.]

[bigbad]

[Spike doesn't know what a paladin is. Which is for the best, really. Otherwise, he'd probably run away right now.]

Well, never minded opinionated people. I'm sure we'll get along all right.

[Let's all laugh at his future.]

[socialgraces]

[She raises her glass to him.] Godspeed. [She smirks as she takes a drink. She sets the glass down gracefully and rests her elbow on the table, her posture inclined towards him.] How's your drink?

[bigbad]

[He raises his glass with a bit of a grin.] A hell of a lot better than anything I've bought. Thanks, love.

[socialgraces]

I'm glad you like it. [She offer a him a lovely grin of her own.] I'd suggest a one glass limit for you though. It's Fey wine and not to be taken lightly by non-Fey. [Just some friendly advice.]

So, besides fighting, what other things have you taken interest in?

[bigbad]

[He shrugs, a little embarrassed. Besides fighting, he hasn't done much at all. He's got to do some self-discovery, apparently.]

I've read a bit.

[socialgraces]

I suppose there has been an overabundance of social events around the castle lately. Doesn't leave one time for much else. [She stresses the word 'overabundance' with a snarky tone.]

Have you been catching up on our world's history? Or looking into current events?

[bigbad]

A bit. Hardly an expert, yet, but I've picked up a thing or two.

[...mostly, he'd been reading poetry, actually, but he doesn't want to admit it.]

[socialgraces]

Hmm. [She merely takes his comment into consideration.] Made any new friends?

[bigbad]

Maybe. [He hasn't known anyone long enough to call them a friend, but he likes Buffy.] Bit early to tell, you know?

[socialgraces]

That's probably a wise approach. First impressions can sometimes be misleading. [She pauses to consider him for a moment.] However, now that I've been able to get past introductions with you, I must admit you're quite good company. [She smiles.] Out of all the new squires I've met in the last couple weeks, I think you're the one who seems to fit in here the best.

[bigbad]

[That gets a genuine, pleased smile out of him. He's not sure he agrees about fitting in, but he's glad to hear it anyway.] Thanks, love. Same to you. [He holds up his now nearly empty glass with a smirk.] Then again, it could be the very nice booze talking.

[socialgraces]

[She smirks.] I'm not sure how to take that. [But it's obvious she's just joking around.]

I've seen a lot of squires come in, and a surprising number of them walk right back out after the first couple weeks. I don't see that happening with you. Really, the more you stand out among your peers, the better you'll probably fit in with the rest of us. Our seasoned Knights tend to be quite the characters.

And I know next you'll say: "Well, I don't really have anywhere else to go." And that makes you even more fit to join us on a long-term basis. It may sound disingenuous at first, but it's just like a family unit. Or so I've been told. When you're forever stuck having to get along with someone, you tend to learn quickly to appreciate their good qualities and accept their bad.

That's how we all get along well enough to live together. Most of us don't agree on anything. And we all come from such very different backgrounds and upbringings. But we know we can rely on each other, and that we're each important in our own ways to this organization, to each other. It's something beyond camaraderie. [She pauses for half a second to consider.] It really is like a family. [She screws up her face at that to show him she realizes how ridiculous it sounds too. But then she gives him a big smile.] You'll never regret staying.

[bigbad]

[It surprises Spike a bit. Not that he'd fit in with the graduated knights so much as that he cares about fitting in. That what she's saying about family and camaraderie sounds good. He didn't think he cared about that sort of thing.

Also that she entirely called what he would have said next. About not having anywhere else to go.

He shrugs casually, trying to look like he doesn't care. He's bloody independent. He doesn't need to belong. Even if it sounds nice.]

You should write the recruitment papers. You make this place sound right cozy.

[socialgraces]

I have been told I can be quite persuasive. I suppose that is my specialty, after all. Well, one of many. [She's not purposefully trying to sound flirtatious, but it might come off a little like that.] I'm also quite looking forward to working with you and finding out where your specialties lie. To me, that's one of the most interesting things about new squires.

[bigbad]

[He shrugs.] Fairly sure it's violence.

[socialgraces]

[She chuckles.] Yes, well, we do try to hone those skills into a specific form of combat. That's more what I was referring to. A way to channel your violent tendencies into a productive specialty.

You'll figure it out. [And with that she tosses back the rest of her drink and scrapes her chair back.] I suppose I won't monopolize your whole afternoon. I probably have work waiting for me. Have to earn my keep, after all. [She gives him a small smile.]

[bigbad]

[He nods, raising his glass to her with a wry sort of grin. Then he drains the last bit out.] Thanks for the drink, love. I'll see you around.